Back to December: A Short Story

Instructions

"I'm so glad you made time to see me," I said, putting on a tight smile as you sat opposite me, in the cafe where we had our first date, arms crossed on your chest, expression unreadable. "How's life? And your family? It's been a while since I've seen them..." You talk about your life, you've been busy lately, and we make small talk about work and the weather. We've been experiencing some midnight rain. Your guard is up, and I know why, because the last time you saw me, you gave me roses, and I left them there to die. You turn to leave, but I need to swallow my pride and say it: "I'm sorry for that December night." I blurt out as I catch your arm, "I know I said I wanted freedom, but it isn't anything but missing you. I wish I'd realized I had when you were mine." I said, tearing up, "I'm having a hard time sleeping because I dream about when I left and when your birthday passed and I didn't call." I said, the bags under my eyes back me up. "I think about all of our beautiful times in the summer, when I watched you laughing from the passenger side, and when I realized I loved you in the fall," I said, reminiscing about our happy days together. "But when the cold came, fear crept into my mind. You gave me all your love, but I said goodbye," I said, pausing to breathe as I looked at you staring with an expression I don't recognize. Happiness? Sadness? Disgust? Hopefulness? "I miss you, your tan skin, your sweet smile, you were so good and right to me, and I think about how you held me in your arms that September night, the first time you saw me cry." I was listing down your good qualities. "I don't expect you to forgive me, but if we love again, I promise I'll love you right, so if there's a chain on your door, I understand." By the time I'm finished, I start sobbing, and you wrap me in your arms. I look up, teary-eyed eyed "I forgive you," you say, your eyes warm and genuine. "I promise to earn back your trust, and I'll never break your heart again," I say as I hug you. After that, we started to hang out more, and I worked on earning back your trust. On your birthday, I'll take you to dinner. When you give me roses, I put them in a vase with water. I can sleep again now that you're next to me, and when you give me all your love, I give you mine. I get to watch you laugh from the passenger's side again, I get to cry in your arms, and I let you cry in mine. We've been together so long that it feels like we were never apart. You have my heart, and I have yours. Today is our 3rd anniversary. You took me to the cafe where it first started, where we had our first date, and where I apologized to you. There looks to be no people here, only some staff. "Did you reserve this place?" I said my jaw dropped. "Yes, today is very special." You reply with a smirk, I kissed that smirk right off your face, "You didn't have to do that" I said after pulling away. We finished eating and we were having dessert, I ordered some wine, and when it came back, there was a ring on the bottle. My heart was now beating faster as you took the ring and got down on one knee. "We've been through so much heartbreak together, and we love each other unmeasurably, and now I'm ready to spend the rest of our lives together; the question is, are you?" I started full-on sobbing, "Yes, yes, yes," I exclaimed. You put the ring on my finger and kiss me. Our families and friends come out of nowhere, and we celebrate. Now, when I go back to December, I feel happiness and gratefulness instead of dread and sadness.